Children are among 13 killed in a stampede during food and clothing collection events in Nigeria

At least 13 people, including four children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria when large crowds gathered to collect food and clothes distributed during the annual Christmas celebrations, Nigerian police said on Saturday.

The two incidents came days after another stampede of its kind in Africa’s most populous country, amid a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to organize charitable events before Christmas, as the country suffers from the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. .

Police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh said in a statement that ten people were killed in the first stampede early Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upscale area of ​​the capital, Abuja. She added that more than a thousand people were evacuated from the church.

Witnesses said that there was a large crowd at one of the church gates, with dozens trying to enter the building at around four in the morning, hours before the gifts were distributed. They added that some had been waiting since the night before.

One of the witnesses, Loveth Inyang, said: “The way they were rushing in, some people were falling and some were elderly.” Inyang said he was able to rescue a child while his mother was struggling during the surge.

The state police said that three people were killed in a similar stampede later in the town of Okija in the southeastern state of Anambra during a charity event organized by a philanthropist.

“The event had not even begun when the stampede started,” police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. He added that the death toll may rise as officers investigate the incident.

The stampede raises safety questions

Circulating footage that appeared to be from the scene of the accident in Abuja showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground while people were screaming for help. Police said some of the injured were treated and released from hospital, while others continue to receive medical care.

The church canceled the charity event, with bags of rice and clothes still being arranged inside the building.

While the church held a wedding after the crowd was cleared, the pain and sadness remained palpable even as families and friends gathered to take wedding photos.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims and asked the relevant countries and authorities to implement strict crowd control measures.

Stampede incidents raised questions about safety procedures in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday this week when a local institution organized a well-attended entertainment festival to distribute gifts and food items to children in the southwestern state of Oyo.

After the recent disaster, the police in Abuja announced that permission must be obtained before organizing such charitable events.

The blame for the current economic difficulties under Tinubu – who promised “renewed hope” when he was sworn in as president in May 2023 – has been attributed to high inflation, which has reached its highest level in 28 years, and economic policies that have pushed the local currency to a low level. Record low against the US dollar.

Frustration over the cost of living crisis has led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds more arrested during protests demanding better job opportunities for young people.